How to Remodel Your Bathroom to Make It Greener
So you want your bathroom remodel project to be greener, but you're not quite sure what "green bathroom" means.
Is it energy efficient? Does it use more sustainable materials? Is it more health conscious? Does it focus on water conservation? There are a lot of decisions and options for making your bathroom remodel ecofriendly.
Design for Energy Efficiency Energy efficiency concerns the amount of energy wasted by appliances.
Demand or inline hot-water heaters save energy because they only heat the water you use.
You can install skylights and windows to cut down on using lights, and to make the lights you do use more energy efficient install CFL bulbs or LED.
Choose Sustainable Materials Sustainability generally refers to the ability to replace a resource, and there are plenty of places in the bathroom to choose sustainability.
A few options include:
Offgassing releases chemicals and compounds into the air that are often unhealthy.
Also be sure to select paint, finishes, and other materials with low or no Volatile Organic Compounds.
To avoid mold spores in the air, don't use gypsum drywall near the shower or bathtub or under a surround.
Conserve Water Saving water is an easy step, and even luxury bathrooms can utilize low-water faucets and shower heads, which can significantly decrease your water usage.
Low-water or dual-flush toilets allow the user to select the amount of water necessary.
Think about Longevity An often overlooked aspect of green bath remodeling, longevity means thinking about how long the elements of your bathroom will last.
If you install a super-trendy design, it will probably look outdated in ten years.
If you use classic colors and design, durable materials, and quality fixtures, you won't need to replace them any time soon, which is not only good for the environment...
it's good for your wallet!
Is it energy efficient? Does it use more sustainable materials? Is it more health conscious? Does it focus on water conservation? There are a lot of decisions and options for making your bathroom remodel ecofriendly.
Design for Energy Efficiency Energy efficiency concerns the amount of energy wasted by appliances.
Demand or inline hot-water heaters save energy because they only heat the water you use.
You can install skylights and windows to cut down on using lights, and to make the lights you do use more energy efficient install CFL bulbs or LED.
Choose Sustainable Materials Sustainability generally refers to the ability to replace a resource, and there are plenty of places in the bathroom to choose sustainability.
A few options include:
- Tiles made from clay or glass.
- Flooring of bamboo, cork, or sheet linoleum.
- Bamboo or wheatboard cabinets.
Offgassing releases chemicals and compounds into the air that are often unhealthy.
Also be sure to select paint, finishes, and other materials with low or no Volatile Organic Compounds.
To avoid mold spores in the air, don't use gypsum drywall near the shower or bathtub or under a surround.
Conserve Water Saving water is an easy step, and even luxury bathrooms can utilize low-water faucets and shower heads, which can significantly decrease your water usage.
Low-water or dual-flush toilets allow the user to select the amount of water necessary.
Think about Longevity An often overlooked aspect of green bath remodeling, longevity means thinking about how long the elements of your bathroom will last.
If you install a super-trendy design, it will probably look outdated in ten years.
If you use classic colors and design, durable materials, and quality fixtures, you won't need to replace them any time soon, which is not only good for the environment...
it's good for your wallet!
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